cn@noblewickersham.com
Direct Dial: 617-777-4814
In his role as Partner Emeritus of the firm, Chris Noble consults with his NWH colleagues on various client matters. During his decades of active practice in design and construction law, Chris drafted and negotiated hundreds of design and construction contracts for projects throughout the world, including major university and hospital buildings, public schools and correctional facilities, museums and aquariums, and the tallest office towers in the world.
Chris has also served as general counsel for numerous design firms, negotiated resolution of design and construction disputes, supported trial counsel in contested proceedings, and provided advice on the legal and commercial issues involved in the establishment, management, and ownership transition of design firms. He has advised clients and negotiated contracts for projects in nearly every US state and over two dozen foreign countries.
He drafted amendments to the Massachusetts Mechanics’ Lien law giving lien rights to architects and other design professionals, having negotiated their provisions with subcontractors, lenders, and other stakeholders.
He has published numerous articles and book chapters on topics such as building information modeling, design/build, project alliances, and various project delivery methods and standard contract forms. For twenty years, he presented a definitive annual professional education program on Massachusetts Construction Law, and he has presented or participated in over one hundred other lectures, seminars, and similar programs for groups of owners, design professionals, contractors, and lawyers.
Prior Professional Experience: Hill & Barlow, Boston, MA (1973 – 2002). Practiced design, construction, corporate, and real estate law, serving as chair of the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group.
Academic Appointments: Visiting Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Design (1989). Guest Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Real Estate (2002-2003). Guest Lecturer, Roger Williams School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation (2003-2010).Guest Lecturer, Construction Management Department, Wentworth Institute of Technology (2014-2016)
Professional Registrations and Activities: Admitted to bar, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founding Fellow, former Director and Chair of Contract Documents Committee, American College of Construction Lawyers. Former Chair, Contract Documents Division, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry. Secretary, Trustee, Boston Architectural College (2004-2008) Director, The Community Builders, Inc. (1982-2011) Honorary Member, Boston Society of Architects.
Education:
Yale Law School, J.D. 1973.
Yale University, B.A. 1968.
Banaras Hindu University, 1964-65.
